Town Crier Articles

 

Did you know that the Architectural Review Committee (ARC) has a procedure for considering applications from homeowners wanting to make permanent exterior changes to their homes?  The main take away for homeowners is the requirement that applications be submitted one week prior to the scheduled ARC meeting which takes place on the 2nd Monday of each month at 4:00PM. This is not a new requirement or change. You can find our requirements on the NTRA website under Committees, Policies, Newsletter Archives/ Policies and Guidelines/4.0 Architectural Review - Changes to Property/ and the following three documents 4.1 (Guidelines) 4.1A (Application) and 4.2. (Procedures).  Excerpts from the relevant ARC process documents are listed below.  

 

The ARC has tried to accommodate homeowners who submit applications within that one-week time limit, but this has become unworkable. An agenda for the ARC meeting must be posted on the NTRA website in advance of the meeting, all applications submitted must be verified by the management company for completion and then forwarded to ARC members, and ARC members must have time to visit the properties to see what the proposed changes involve.  Having a complete application submitted one week prior to the ARC meeting allows time for all of these things to happen in an orderly fashion. Please remember to submit ARC applications at least one week prior to the ARC meeting or they won't be reviewed until the subsequent month.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another important vote is coming at our 2022 Annual NTRA Members Meeting. There are two ballot resolutions to be approved – 1) the annual resolution allowing the Association to apply any year end surplus funds to our reserve funds to avoid paying income tax, and 2) a proposed amendment to the “Shared Amenities” agreement. Owners are asked to approve both resolutions.

 

In particular, in Resolution 2 owners are asked to approve an amendment to the Amenities Use Easement and Agreement between the New Town Residential Association (NTRA), the New Town Commercial Association (NTCA), and New Town Associates (NTA), the New Town Developer. This vote is an important action to reflect how both Associations are managed and now operate. 

 

What is the Amenities Use Easement and Agreement?

 

The Amenities Use Easement and Agreement (referred to commonly as “Shared Amenities Agreement”) is an agreement between the NTRA, NTCA, and NTA concluded in 2015, when the Developer controlled all three entities. This document outlines the rights of owners in each Association to enjoy the common areas throughout New Town, and the obligation of each party to share in the cost of their upkeep. This agreement covers items like shared electrical lighting, maintenance of dog stations, security, landscaping at community entrances, seasonal banners and decorations, etc.- items located throughout both New Town’s commercial and residential neighborhoods.  Oversight is provided by a Managing Committee with Board Members from both Associations which meets annually to review the cost sharing budgets for the upcoming year.

 

The 2015 agreement places the NTRA at a disadvantage. The agreement’s representation is 1 vote for NTA, 3 votes for NTCA and 3 votes for NTRA. The agreement favors the Developer through at least 2026 because as Declarant for the NTCA and President of NTA, the Developer controls four Committee votes. The agreement also permits the Declarant to unilaterally subject future real estate to the provisions of the agreement (paragraph 1b) “without the consent of either Association or the Committee.” This is a critical challenge for the NTRA given the possibility of development of neighboring Eastern State Hospital property.

 

Why is this amendment needed now?

 

The Amendment would remove language prohibiting us from having a management company that is different from the NTCA. There are two parts of the agreement that must be changed.

 

Currently paragraph R5 in the Recitals states: 

 

This paragraph needs to be removed. For many years both the NTRA and the NTCA used the same management company, Town Management LLC. However, in December 2021, NTRA and Town Management mutually terminated their contractual relationship.  At that time the NTRA asked the Managing Committee for a waiver to this single management company requirement and proposed an amendment, but the Chair (NTCA President and NTA President) declined asking the NTCA’s legal counsel to review the situation. NTCA’s legal counsel advised against a waiver, saying “any amendment must be approved in accordance with the Amenities Easement and Agreement.” The Amendment we are voting on follows this process.

 

The assumed benefits of a single manager no longer apply to our community.  Our two management companies work together on maintenance items, services are provided, and bills are paid accordingly. Over the past year it has been demonstrated that this cooperation works, so we need to legally reflect the separation.

 

Similarly, paragraph 7 “Single Management Company” is no longer relevant and needs to be deleted in its entirety from the Agreement.  Paragraph 7 currently reads:  

 

Why does such a change require a Member vote?

 

Section 18 of the agreement requires that “any amendment to Paragraph 7 of this agreement (requiring a single management company) ...must be approved by not less than 2/3rds of the votes cast in person or by proxy at a duly called meeting of the members of each Association at which a quorum is present.”

 

While the Boards of each Association and the Declarant can amend other sections of the document, a change to Section 7 requires both Boards approval and a member vote by both Associations.  The NTRA Board has approved this amended language and we are starting the NTRA voting process by asking for your approval on December 14th.  Then the decision process will move to the NTCA.

 

How will this change affect the NTRA and NTCA relationship?

 

NTRA and NTCA continue to cooperate routinely.  The proposed amendment includes adding a new sentence 6g to recognize the involvement of both management companies at the annual Managing Committee meeting.

 “NTRA and NTCA may appoint a representative or representatives of their respective management companies to attend and participate, but not vote, in Committee meetings.”

 

Recently a Charlotte Park owner publicly criticized the Board for “tarnishing the relationship with the NTCA.” That is not the case. The NTRA Board has been working hard to be treated fairly on cost sharing, and as an equal partner in this agreement. In fact, this December 14th planned amendment vote was suggested by the President of NTCA and NTA as a way forward on this one topic only, so that the NTRA is not kept in continued violation of the agreement.

 

Certainly, more changes to the Shared Amenities Agreement are needed going forward.  The NTRA recently asked that the Managing Committee work on a larger revision of the entire agreement but that motion did not pass.  

 

Support this necessary first step to equal partnership by approving Resolution 2.

 

This informational meeting hosted by the NTRA Board of Directors had dual purposes. 

 

 

The first New Town landscaping contract under full homeowner control went to James River Grounds Management, who are well established in this area. Staff members and management introduced themselves with statements regarding their roles in the services provided.

 

James River staff then discussed their planned entry audit of the entire community, including common areas, trails, BMP’s and lots, to document current conditions, flag safety hazards and any areas of concern.  The team described their processes for: 

• Routine lawn maintenance using smaller closed deck mulching mowers followed by a string trimmer. In response to a question, their policy is to have workers report areas that are too wet to mow for the supervisor’s consideration.
• Quality control, including weekly inspections of work and site audits to determine overall quality and enhancement opportunities. 

Two specific policies were highlighted:

• Policy on individualized plant beds, which will not be serviced
• Buffer zones to be created with herbicide under fences in order to protect them

A calendar approximating services by month was part of their presentation (now posted on the website LINK).

 

Questions included: 

1. Environmental impact of chemicals. James River follows EPA and JCC guidelines, and uses VA Tech trainers. Chemical treatments are not outsourced.
2. Request for a phone number rather than submitting tickets. Both the company and Anne Ingram (Chesapeake Management) find the ticket system much more efficient and responsive, at least for now.
3. Many questions arose regarding fenced yards: James River staff discussed the merit of buffer zones, which will be required, to protect fences, as was standard policy in early days of New Town. Pictures are on the website. Questions and answers regarding costs: the budget has been set up to cover potential costs if the new documents are passed and mowing of fenced yards is allowed. There was discussion of buffers for fences between lots. 
4. In response to a question, James River will service the BMP’s quarterly, using JCC guidelines. They also prune and mow 6-8 feet alongside the trails and haul all debris away, being mindful of protected areas. 
5. Crabgrass / weed prevention: James River does its own applications in confirmation of JCC law (48 hours notice to community) and tries to anticipate /forestall problems. 
6. Irrigation: this is a separate contract, which has not yet been awarded. 

To help ensure that all parties live up to our agreement with James River, a delineation of responsibilities for both homeowners and the company has been approved by the Board of Directors. See the document Landscape Services and Responsibilities on the NTRA website. It goes into effect on January 1, 2023.

 

 

 

The second part of the meeting was devoted to an introduction of candidates for the 2023-2024 Board. Board Vice President Jack Espinal stressed that candidates should be committed to serving the entire community, be able to subjugate personal feelings to that goal, and be open to other’s ideas. 

 

Three candidates for the two openings presented their views and credentials, here in summary form. Please check the NTRA website for more information about these candidates. 

 

Ruth Burgess, a retired United Methodist minister, has served on the NTRA Finance Committee and stressed the need for a sense of collaborative community. She previously lived in Reston, the first “new urban” community in VA and draws from that experience and vision.

 

Jeff Kuperstock, a retired attorney, stated that his views are at variance with the current Board, especially his opposition to the proposed revised governing documents. He favors decentralized control through neighborhood boards that could interact on NTRA issues. (Editors note: please see comment below for clarification).

 

Caitlin Melchior is a recent New Town arrival with a background in corporate law, and an MBA augmenting her JD. While still in the learning process about our community, she stressed her commitment to candor and cooperation with civil dialogue. 

 

All candidates agreed that the NTRA should have a constructive relationship with the New Town Commercial Association. In response to concerns about increasing numbers of tenants, the consensus was that there is no legal remedy to limit rentals unless it is done at the outset of a community. 

 

Our community has a small, but mighty, communications committee comprised entirely of volunteers. The communications committee sends Eblasts, updates the Facebook page, publishes the Town Crier each month, maintains and updates the NTRA website, designs, prints and posts signage around the neighborhood, and more. If not for the efforts of these volunteers, residents would not receive information about community events, changes and guidance around our residential association policies and procedures, NTRA business, or other informative news. 

 

The current requirements of the committee have surpassed our available resources. We are in last-chance recruitment mode… if you have a few hours to give to your community and have any interest in writing and/or editing for the Town Crier, website maintenance and updates, or general communications support, please join us today! 

 

Without additional volunteers, the following changes are being considered for 2023:

 

To provide feedback and/or join the team, please email ntratown.crier@gmail.com

 

The first phase of our vote for revised Governing Documents took place from September 6th to October 18th.  The results were inconclusive because less than 300 owners voted. This total was announced at the meeting and included all the electronic, absentee and in-person votes as of that date. Due to the lack of participation, the Special Meeting was continued beyond the October 18, 2022 meeting date.  

 

There is still time for you to participate and vote!

 

Generally, the voting for a set of revised HOA governing documents can be a drawn-out affair – averaging 8 to 12 months in many cases.  The Board of Directors hoped to conclude the vote in time for our 2023 budget preparation because the revised documents would change the assessment methodology. Since a new budget must be approved by December 1, 2022, we plan to prepare assessments based on our current documents and await the final vote results. 

 

There have been a few questions about the continuation or adjournment of a Special Meeting under Roberts Rule of Order. Here are some facts to help you sort out this process.

 

Recall that in 2020 the first NTRA homeowner Board of Directors extended the vote for the First Amendment to the Master Declaration (related to Savannah Square) in order to gather enough “yes” votes to pass the amendment. (Please see the Town Criers of June, July, August and September 2020 for how this was handled – https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/news-articles/)  

 

However, in the current election NO ONE HAS COUNTED THE BALLOTS OR IS TRACKING THE FOR AND AGAINST VOTES.  The electronic votes are locked in the ezVote software system and Chesapeake Bay Management has control of the paper ballots as part of their professional responsibility.  We are holding a secured, honest and fair election that has not yet been called.

 

The Association needs sufficient New Town wide participation to determine the will of most owners. Ballots from less than half of our 618 lot owners do not do that.

 

Owner apathy hurts everyone in our community. Get involved! Use an absentee ballot or your electronic ballot link from ezVote to let your voice be heard.

 

Applicants are needed to stand for election for 2023-24. Send a one-page application with: your name, contact information, neighborhood, background/suitability for the Board, reason for serving on the Board to the NTRA Board secretary – ntra.secretary@gmail.com no later than November 4th.

 

Committee Openings:

Send an email to ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com to express interest in any of these Committee positions and we will put you in touch with the Committee chair. 

 

The largest single cost for the New Town Residential Association’s (NTRA) is landscaping. This past spring we began a process for finding the best possible and affordable landscaping provider for the Association during the next three years. 

 

This process began with the Landscape Advisory Committee’s (LAC) development of a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP). They used their landscaping experience in New Town, past New Town landscaping surveys, and sample RFPs from other communities in the area to draft a new NTRA RFP. Next, the Board of Directors reviewed this document and ensured that it reflected the community’s expectations for landscaping services.

 

Five Williamsburg area landscaping contractors received the RFP and were invited to participate in a comprehensive tour of our community.  Each of our neighborhoods were visited during the tour and their specific landscaping needs were explained.  

 

We subsequently received four bids. The pricing and level of services of the four proposals were judiciously compared and evaluated.  The two contractors with the best proposals were selected for interviews.  The Board used these meetings to clarify services and pricing as well as communicate our community’s landscaping policies and expectations.  While the providers were preparing their best and final offers, each of their references were contacted for recommendations.  These recommendations and the contractors final submissions were evaluated and used to select the 2023-2025 NTRA landscaping provider.

 

During our October Board meeting, the NTRA Board approved James River Grounds Management as our next landscaping service provider. James River has been invited to meet the community at a meeting on November 21 in Legacy Hall.

 

One of the first services that James River Grounds Management will be providing is a comprehensive audit of the entire NTRA community. This will help prepare them for providing services to the community in 2023 and will also give the Association the information needed for the LAC to develop a draft five-year plan for landscaping improvements.

 

Hundreds of volunteer hours were spent developing the landscaping RFP and evaluating these proposals. This effort has resulted in the selection of the best and most affordable landscaping services for our community.

 

 

Knock Out Roses arguably have the most flower power of just about any shrub available in Virginia.  As reported in the July 2022 Town Crier, and first identified by VLL in February 2021, many of the Knock Out roses in New Town have become infected with the Rose Rosette disease which is carried by a tiny mite (Phyllocoptes fructiphylus) that travels by crawling, through air currents, or on clothing and equipment. The mites feed and reproduce on the tips of new growth of rose bushes. The disease causes deformation and discoloration of the bush as shown below if figure 1.  There is no treatment for this disease and trimming back the infected roses will have no effect as the virus remains in the stocks, roots, and in the ground.

 

Figure 1. Rose Rosette 

 

The LAC has completed an inventory of all NTRA homes where the disease is present. These homeowners will be formally notified to remove these bushes no later than June 1, 2023. 

 

The only solution is to completely remove the bushes and the roots of the infected plant. At this point, only the Knock Out roses in New Town have been infected, but this virus is also known to attack all Rose varieties.  No roses should be replanted in the area.

 

The NTRA will be removing all diseased Knock Out roses from our common areas. We have asked the New Town Commercial Association to similarly eradicate their diseased bushes.

 

Unfortunately this is not the only plant disease problem that we have in New Town.

 

 

Our community has also been attacked by crepe myrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus lagerstroemiae). See April 2022 Crier Article. While it is not a fatal disease, it really stresses the crepe myrtles. Infected trees bloom later in the spring and the blooms tend to be much smaller and fewer than trees that are not infected.  In addition, many of the limbs die and the and the black bark with the white scale becomes an eye sore.

 

The NTRA is now treating all crepe myrtles in our Association common areas. However, homeowners are responsible for treating their own infected crepe myrtles.  You can tell if your crepe myrtle has been infected by examining the bark. If it is black and has small white specks on it, it has been infected. You may also see snow white crawlers moving up and down the limbs.  If you crush the crawlers or white specks, they will turn blood red. 

 

Inspect your trees and treat them now! Crepe myrtle bark scale is treated by washing as many of the blackened branches as possible with a mild detergent and then spraying an oil on the infected bark. The soil around the crepe myrtle can also be treated with a soil drench of imidacloprid or dinotefuran when crepe myrtles begin to leaf out in the spring.  Fertilizer can also be applied at that time to help the tree remain healthy.

 

Working together as a community on both infestation problems will help keep our plantings healthy and beautiful.

 

Budget Town Hall - Wednesday, November 16, 2022 – 6:30PM

Briefing on proposed 2023 NTRA budget. 

Legacy Hall

 

(Tentative) BOD Candidate Forum and Landscape Briefing - Monday, November 21, 2022 (Time TBD)

Meet our new landscape contractor and hear from those NTRA Members running for the upcoming Board of Directors election.

Legacy Hall 

 

Annual Members Meeting – Wednesday, December 14, 2022 – 6:30PM

Annual meeting of the Members of the NTRA 

Legacy Hall

 

 

With the end of this year approaching, it is time for the Finance Committee and the Board of Directors (BOD) to tackle next year’s budget.  This is no small task given the impact of inflation and the uncertainties surrounding Village Walk, both continued maintenance and the potential turnover of common areas.

 

The Board is holding the line on costs where possible. To help with the workload for our management company, more administrative support is needed. Additionally, staffing at the pool next summer will be increased for weekends and holidays. Significant BMP maintenance and repairs will be funded from the NTRA reserve fund. Do not forget to attend the Budget Town Hall Meeting at Legacy Hall on November 16th to hear all the details.

 

Due to the on-going maintenance challenges, the BOD has been negotiating with Eagle Construction to come up with an agreeable solution to roof and siding issues in Village Walk.  We have made some progress in that regard and hope to see the start of roof repairs very soon.  

 

The Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) has informed the Association that they are planning to increase their bus service through New Town.  They propose additional stops on Casey Boulevard and more frequent service.  This new service has already been approved by James City County, City of Williamsburg and the WATA Board.  Two options for an inbound route stop on Casey Boulevard (Bus Route 15) are possible. Please see the related Crier article and direct any questions and/or comments to:  goWATA.org.

 

Once again we would like to give a big thank you to the Activities Committee for the great job they did with the Fall Funfest!  They had a great turnout and the multigenerational attendees really enjoyed themselves.  There is one remaining Dessert Fest planned for December.  Each event is a great way to meet your neighbors and make new friends.  Don’t miss out!

 

See more of the Board’s news from this month in the Crier articles on the October 18th Special Meeting and the selection of a new landscape contractor.

 

My term as a Director ends in December.  It has been an interesting and enlightening year.  I urge you to consider running for election to the 2023-2024 Board of Directors. 

 

 

Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) is soliciting feedback on upcoming route changes in your area. As a result of a Transit Consolidation Study, the proposed changes include restructuring WATA’s existing Route 5 and Route 14 services resulting in a new route that will go through your area: Route 12. In 2020, we discontinued our trolley service due to COVID-19. Route 12 will serve as its replacement, becoming a full-service fixed route. Due to the restructuring of the routes, WATA would like to hear your feedback on a couple of proposed new stop locations, especially the two inbound route options on Casey Boulevard in the residential community. 

 

On Route 12’s outbound trip beginning at the Williamsburg Transportation Center, WATA is proposing new stop locations in the following places: 

o   Center St at Casey Blvd. 

o   Casey Blvd at Settlers Market (Actual intersection is unnamed street- Petco/Which Wich) 

 

On Route 12’s inbound trip heading back towards the Williamsburg Transportation Center, WATA is proposing new stop locations in the following places: 

o   Casey Blvd at Settlers Market

o   Casey Blvd at Center St.

or

o   Casey Blvd at Foundation St.

 

These route changes will provide increased access to public transit by providing service more frequently to the New Town area. Each bus stop will be marked with signage only and buses will stop in the road.

 

These route changes are planned to go into effect as of November 14, 2022. 

 

Your feedback is important to help WATA ensure that the new stop locations provide safe and effective service to your area. Please email all questions and comments to Ben Goodill, Director of Planning and Administration at Info@gowata.org, no later than November 9th, 2022

 

October 18th Special Members Meeting to Vote on Revised Documents – Why Was the Vote Continued?  

 

The first phase of our vote for revised Governing Documents took place from September 6th to October 18th.  The results were inconclusive because less than 300 owners voted. This total was announced at the meeting and included all the electronic, absentee and in-person votes as of that date. Due to the lack of participation, the Special Meeting was continued beyond the October 18, 2022 meeting date.  

 

There is still time for you to participate and vote!

 

Generally, the voting for a set of revised HOA governing documents can be a drawn-out affair – averaging 8 to 12 months in many cases.  The Board of Directors hoped to conclude the vote in time for our 2023 budget preparation because the revised documents would change the assessment methodology. Since a new budget must be approved by December 1, 2022, we plan to prepare assessments based on our current documents and await the final vote results. 

 

There have been a few questions about the continuation or adjournment of a Special Meeting under Roberts Rule of Order. Here are some facts to help you sort out this process.

Recall that in 2020 the first NTRA homeowner Board of Directors extended the vote for the First Amendment to the Master Declaration (related to Savannah Square) in order to gather enough “yes” votes to pass the amendment. (Please see the Town Criers of June, July, August and September 2020 for how this was handled – https://www.ntrawilliamsburg.org/news-articles/)  

 

However, in the current election NO ONE HAS COUNTED THE BALLOTS OR IS TRACKING THE FOR AND AGAINST VOTES.  The electronic votes are locked in the ezVote software system and Chesapeake Bay Management has control of the paper ballots as part of their professional responsibility.  We are holding a secured, honest and fair election that has not yet been called.

 

The Association needs sufficient New Town wide participation to determine the will of most owners. Ballots from less than half of our 618 lot owners do not do that.

 

Owner apathy hurts everyone in our community. Get involved! Use an absentee ballot or your electronic ballot link from ezVote to let your voice be heard.

 

 

Applicants are needed to stand for election for 2023-24. Send a one-page application with: your name, contact information, neighborhood, background/suitability for the Board, reason for serving on the Board to the NTRA Board secretary – ntra.secretary@gmail.com no later than November 4th.

Committee Openings:

Send an email to ntrawebsitecommittee@gmail.com to express interest in any of these Committee positions and we will put you in touch with the Committee chair. 

 

Landscaping Update: New Landscaping Contractor and Our Area’s Plant Diseases 

 

The largest single cost for the New Town Residential Association’s (NTRA) is landscaping. This past spring we began a process for finding the best possible and affordable landscaping provider for the Association during the next three years. 

 

This process began with the Landscape Advisory Committee’s (LAC) development of a comprehensive Request for Proposal (RFP). They used their landscaping experience in New Town, past New Town landscaping surveys, and sample RFPs from other communities in the area to draft a new NTRA RFP. Next, the Board of Directors reviewed this document and ensured that it reflected the community’s expectations for landscaping services.

 

Five Williamsburg area landscaping contractors received the RFP and were invited to participate in a comprehensive tour of our community.  Each of our neighborhoods were visited during the tour and their specific landscaping needs were explained.  

 

We subsequently received four bids. The pricing and level of services of the four proposals were judiciously compared and evaluated.  The two contractors with the best proposals were selected for interviews.  The Board used these meetings to clarify services and pricing as well as communicate our community’s landscaping policies and expectations.  While the providers were preparing their best and final offers, each of their references were contacted for recommendations.  These recommendations and the contractors final submissions were evaluated and used to select the 2023-2025 NTRA landscaping provider.

 

During our October Board meeting, the NTRA Board approved James River Grounds Management as our next landscaping service provider. James River has been invited to meet the community at a meeting on November 21 in Legacy Hall.

 

One of the first services that James River Grounds Management will be providing is a comprehensive audit of the entire NTRA community. This will help prepare them for providing services to the community in 2023 and will also give the Association the information needed for the LAC to develop a draft five-year plan for landscaping improvements.

 

Hundreds of volunteer hours were spent developing the landscaping RFP and evaluating these proposals. This effort has resulted in the selection of the best and most affordable landscaping services for our community.

 

 

Knock Out Roses arguably have the most flower power of just about any shrub available in Virginia.  As reported in the July 2022 Town Crier, and first identified by VLL in February 2021, many of the Knock Out roses in New Town have become infected with the Rose Rosette disease which is carried by a tiny mite (Phyllocoptes fructiphylus) that travels by crawling, through air currents, or on clothing and equipment. The mites feed and reproduce on the tips of new growth of rose bushes. The disease causes deformation and discoloration of the bush.  There is no treatment for this disease and trimming back the infected roses will have no effect as the virus remains in the stocks, roots, and in the ground.

 

The LAC has completed an inventory of all NTRA homes where the disease is present. These homeowners will be formally notified to remove these bushes no later than June 1, 2023. The only solution is to completely remove the bushes and the roots of the infected plant. At this point, only the Knock Out roses in New Town have been infected, but this virus is also known to attack all Rose varieties.  No roses should be replanted in the area.

 

The NTRA will be removing all diseased Knock Out roses from our common areas. We have asked the New Town Commercial Association to similarly eradicate their diseased bushes.

 

Unfortunately this is not the only plant disease problem that we have in New Town.

 

 

Our community has also been attacked by crepe myrtle bark scale (Acanthococcus
lagerstroemiae). See April 2022 Crier Article. While it is not a fatal disease, it really stresses the crepe myrtles.  Infected trees bloom later in the spring and the blooms tend to be much smaller and fewer than trees that are not infected.  In addition, many of the limbs die and the and the black bark with the white scale becomes an eye sore.

 

The NTRA is now treating all crepe myrtles in our Association common areas. However, homeowners are responsible for treating their own infected crepe myrtles.  You can tell if your crepe myrtle has been infected by examining the bark. If it is black and has small white specks on it, it has been infected. You may also see snow white crawlers moving up and down the limbs.  If you crush the crawlers or white specks, they will turn blood red. 

 

Inspect your trees and treat them now! Crepe myrtle bark scale is treated by washing as many of the blackened branches as possible with a mild detergent and then spraying an oil on the infected bark. The soil around the crepe myrtle can also be treated with a soil drench of imidacloprid or dinotefuran when crepe myrtles begin to leaf out in the spring.  Fertilizer can also be applied at that time to help the tree remain healthy.

Working together as a community on both infestation problems will help keep our plantings healthy and beautiful.

 

 

Join your neighbors for a Dessert Fest & Bake Off at Legacy Hall, December 7, 6:00-8:00PM.

 

This event, which will help kick off the holiday season in New Town, includes a Bake Off and a Dessert Fest. The Activities Committee is seeking New Towners interested in competing in a baking contest featuring both holiday and non-holiday desserts.  On December 7 at Legacy Hall, Bake-Off participants will present their baked goods in two categories: bars/cookies and cakes/cupcakes, and New Town resident judges will pick winners, who will receive gift certificates. New Towners who want to serve as judges, and bake-off contestants need to pre-register on the New Town Residential Association website. 

 

The entire community is invited to the Dessert Fest, where they will have the opportunity to taste samples of the submitted baked goods as well as desserts from local bakeries. Coffee and water will be provided in addition to the desserts, and there will be seating for attendees to relax with neighbors and new friends and enjoy the goodies. No registration is required to attend and sample! 

 

We look forward to another opportunity to gather with neighbors! Remember, if you want to be a bake-off contestant or judge, make sure to register!

 

 

Santa is coming to New Town!

Free photos with Santa in front of Regal New Town:

Saturdays & Sundays

11AM-4PM Each Day

Nov. 26-27

Dec. 3-4

Dec. 10-11

Dec. 17-18

 

For the most up to date information, check the New Town Commercial Association website, Facebook, or Instagram!

 

 

 

I never had much interest in cars, especially antique cars, until a trip to Staunton a few years ago. There was an antique car museum downtown run by Bruce Elder, perhaps the most personable man I’ve ever met. My wife and I had the first of several wonderful visits with Bruce, and we became more than acquaintances.

 

Sadly, Bruce passed away a couple of years ago, and Staunton is a bit too far for the purposes of this exercise. That doesn’t mean there isn’t something similar out there that you could enjoy.

Reader Mark Johansson contacted us about the possibility of publishing a nationwide map of auto museums that he has compiled.

 

 

It’s an impressive collection, but one of many that stood out to me is in Colonial Heights, slightly more than one hour’s drive from New Town. The Keystone Truck & Tractor Museum encompasses more than 125,000 square feet of memories. Despite its name, the museum offers far more than farm equipment, including antique road trucks, classic cars, vintage gas pumps, oil cans, automotive signage, clocks, and advertising posters of yesteryear.

 

Hundreds of farm tractors are on display in this private collection dating from 1917 through 1960. The Keystone Museum’s collection features rare tractors such as the UDLX Minneapolis Moline (only 25 known restored today) and the Sampson Jumbo, Silver Kings, and a Graham Bradley farm tractor that was sold by Sears, Robuck and Co., and Allis-Chalmer’s. Plus, there’s a lineup of the Massey Harris, Massy Ferguson, Farmall, Case, and Oliver farm tractors. Finally, there’s the Cockshutt farm tractor, showcasing the model 30, 40, 50 & 70.

 

The Museum collection is ever changing and growing. It’s a fun way to learn about the evolution of agriculture in America. To get there, take I-64 W, then I-295 S to VA-36 W/Oaklawn Blvd in Hopewell. Take exit 9B from I-295 S. Then take VA-144 N/Temple Ave to W Roslyn Rd in Colonial Heights.

For more information, visit this website: https://keystonetractorworks.com/, or phone 804 524 0020.

 

 

Gratus is the Latin word for thankful, each is reflective of a single word that denotes a state of mind—and for the wise, a perpetual state.  “Be thankful for what you have, and you will be thankful for much,” the saying goes. Maybe a little schmaltzy, but none the less true, as there are always great blessings in life for those who take the time to tally them. And we are now in the great gold and russet month of thankfulness and gratitude that ushers in that joyous time of year when, as Dickens wrote, “…Want is keenly felt and abundance rejoices.” Let the tally begin for our abundance is considerable. 

 

We are a flawed nation, but a great, none the less; and in comparison to the rest of the ranging world, fortunate, indeed. Our ancestors recognized this truth and saw the need to be thankful, just up the road on scenic Route 5, where the true “First Thanksgiving” was celebrated at Virginia’s Berkeley Plantation. The Plymouth Pilgrims, despite the media hype, trailed the First Virginians by years in celebrating a day of thankfulness and prayer--but both communities, while differing in religious scope, saw the need and honored it. So, our ancestors, and very near neighbors, seized this one day in November (well, okay, it was actually in December,) as one in which an “attitude of gratitude” was righteous and due.  Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

 

November-December Events:  

The New Town Residential Association (NTRA) Activities Committee is planning a Dessert Fest/Bake Off to be held on December 7th from 6:00-8:00pm at Legacy Hall. The entire community is invited to sample baked goods of the holiday and non-holiday variety. See the Town Crier Article in this edition for more information!

 

A popular local publication, Next Door Neighbor Magazine, is a treasure trove of interesting people and businesses in our area and offers an online calendar of events for the city and county-at-large that is chockfull of details for each event showcased.  All you need do is click on the link below to open the calendar, scroll through to each day for a list of that day’s events, and click on the event for details.  A special shout out here for Heritage Humane Society’s Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, November 19th, from 9-3 pm, at Bruton Parish Hall.

 

For information on holiday events offered by New Town Commercial Association, please see the article regarding the same in this issue of The New Town Crier and visit their website. 

 

Some Thanksgiving-themed entries for the month: 

 

Holiday Riddle: What is a mathematician’s favorite food on Thanksgiving? (Answer below.)

 

Curious Thanksgiving Info: An estimated 50 million pumpkin pies are eaten every November.

 

Historical Thanksgiving Fact: Abraham Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving a national holiday on October 3, 1863. Sarah Josepha Hale, the woman who wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” convinced Lincoln to make Thanksgiving a national holiday--after writing letters to institute this day of national gratitude for 17 years.

 

Holiday Hack: Thanksgiving is about being grateful and spending time with loved ones. If your meal doesn’t turn out perfectly or the house is decorated on time, don’t let that spoil your enjoyment of your family and friends.  Don’t forget to relax and enjoy the holiday, too!

 

Black Friday Hack: Use a Credit Card, not Your Debit!  If you make a purchase online Black Friday without being totally sure of the seller, be sure to use a credit card. In general, you have zero liability to pay for a fraudulent transaction. Even if you hit one of the rare exceptions to this policy, federal law says you are not liable for more than $50. Remember: Using a debit card online gives thieves direct access to your bank account(s)—the funds from which you may be entirely responsible for despite being withdrawn without your permission.

 

Pet Care:  Cooked bones from any animal should never be given to your dog, but especially turkey bones or chicken bones. Any kind of cooked bone will splinter when your dog chews on it. Turkey bones and chicken bones are especially brittle, and will break into small, sharp pieces when they are chewed.                                                         

 

Riddle Answer:  Pumpkin Pi

 

 

The below is an excerpt from an article by Carmen Hamner, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

(757) 817-0245 (Direct) | (757) 229-4400 (Office)
Carmen.Hamner@longandfoster.com

 

October has come and gone, leaving behind crisp, cooler air, colorful foliage and sightings of pumpkins and mums on porches. Preparing your home now for the colder months ahead will help prevent costly repairs later and keep your home running in good condition all winter. 

 

We’ve put together a few tips to make your home a warm, safe and comfortable place to enjoy with friends and family. It’s also a good idea to keep a record of your home maintenance routine for your own use or to pass to the next owner of your home should you sell it. 

 

Turn off exterior faucets. Drain the water from your outdoor faucets and garden hoses after turning off the exterior faucets from inside the house. Water in pipes can freeze easily, which can cause pipes to burst. 

 

Clear gutters and downspouts. Leaves, branches and other debris can clog gutters, causing water and ice to collect under your shingles, potentially damaging your roof. Clean outside drains of leaves to prevent water back-ups into your basement.

 

Schedule a furnace tune-up. Stay toasty during the approaching cold weather and save money on energy bills by having your system checked now to avoid outages and potentially costly repairs later.

 

Clean humidifiers and change filters. Prevent bacteria and mold from polluting your indoor air by cleaning your humidifier and changing its filter.

 

Reverse ceiling fans. Switch the direction of your ceiling fans clockwise and run them at a low speed to push warm air down, which will save on energy bills.

 

Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Press the “test” button on your alarms to verify they work. If they don’t work, replace the battery. If they still don’t work, replace the unit rather than waiting until it chirps in the middle of the night.

 

Have additional cold-weather preparation tips? Share them with us in the comments! 

 

 

Budget Town Hall -   Wednesday, November 16, 2022 – 6:30PM

Briefing on proposed 2023 NTRA budget. 

Legacy Hall

 

(tentative) BOD Candidate Forum and Landscape Briefing – Monday, November 21, 2022 (Time TBD)

Meet our new landscape contractor and hear from those NTRA Members running for the upcoming Board of Directors election.

Legacy Hall 

 

Annual Members Meeting – Wednesday, December 14, 2022 – 6:30PM

Annual meeting of the Members of the NTRA 

Legacy Hall

 

 

   

On a recent Saturday afternoon, under a bright fall sky and mild temperatures, peals of laughter rang out across the Village Walk green, as a large crowd of New Town residents joined in the fun of an old-fashioned Fall Festival.  Families with children, young adults and seniors wandered across the green, which was decorated by scare crows, ghosts, and pumpkins.  They munched on popcorn, cookies, and apples and drank cider as they enjoyed a wide array of games and races, an obstacle course, pumpkin painting, and New Town’s version of a cake walk.  Residents mingled and met neighbors, and parents enjoyed watching their kids burn off energy and having fun playing traditional games, often joining in themselves.  

 

At one location, children and the audience watching them loved the game, Pie Face Showdown, during which two kids competed at pounding a button to see who could be the first to get a lever attached to a hand to toss whipped on their opponent’s face.  The “victim” often gratefully licked the whipped cream off their cheeks and begged to try again.  The three sets of the New Town version of  the traditional cake walk were also a crowd favorite.  Adults and children competed in the cake walk to win a giant cookie cake by walking to music in a large circle around fourteen numbered signs decorated with images of fall and Halloween.  When the music stopped everyone scrambled for a number, with our smaller residents aided sometimes by volunteer Virginia Barch.  Resident Rick Byrnes, who provided music for the event, called out a number picked from a hat, and the person who was at that number left the circle but was rewarded with a cupcake and a round of applause from the crowd.  Round and round New Towners marched to the music, starting, and stopping fourteen times before the winner, the last contestant in the circle, won the cookie cake.  

 

Adults played cornhole and croquet, while children ran from game to game, collecting candy at each attempt at ring toss, bean bag toss, splash toss, shark toss and Halloween bucket toss.  Kids and even several moms took on the obstacle course, which involved crawling through two tunnels, moving across a line of boxes without touching the grass and stretching themselves doing the limbo by bending backwards under a pole held by volunteer Eden Glenn.  Little ones enjoyed  building and knocking down houses constructed with cardboard bricks and kids and even some grownups giggled as they raced each other in old-fashioned flour sacks and in a competition requiring pushing a ball with a broom into a bucket. Finally pumpkin painting appealed to residents of all ages.  

 

The fifteen volunteers, including members of the Activities Committee, who made the event possible, also had a fun afternoon. Volunteer Vicki Mahr shared with the  event organizers “some unsolicited feedback from Cora (8 yrs) – ace frisbee thrower! . . . “This is so much fun, I’m really glad we came!’”

 

 

The basic reasons for updating our governing documents are:

 

A NO vote, or not voting (which is the same as voting NO), means the problems caused by the current documents continue.

 

One of the most emotional issues has been landscaping fenced yards.  The current Supplemental Declarations clearly state that certain landscaping services will not be provided to fenced yards.  A NO vote means that policy continues.

 

Although the Developer Board and Town Management provided landscape services to fenced yards, it was done in violation of New Town’s governing documents.  When searching for a new management company, all the candidates expected New Town Residential to be following its documents.  A quality professional managing agent is going to “follow the documents” and advise the Board accordingly.

 

Papers and emails are being circulated throughout the community claiming the revised documents do not guarantee landscaping.  The revised HOA documents DO provide for landscaping services; but they do not spell out the specific details of those services. Each year’s services will be identified as part of the budget process. You will know what to expect.  (Please recall that our existing documents only speak to mowing/edging of grass and pruning of shrubs and bushes, so no additional landscape services are guaranteed today either.)  

 

The term “landscape services” was used to provide flexibility for adjusting the services based on needs, cost and contractor availability.  A detailed list in the governing documents becomes a “must provide” requirement regardless of cost.  We need to think about the future – what if we install more warm weather grasses or change the configuration of our Common Area green spaces?  Lessons from the current landscape negotiations are that available services vary between contractors, and options like servicing fenced yards usually come with conditions. The Board has to balance what some residents want against whether the preferred contractors will do the services, whether any conditions are acceptable, and the costs are affordable for our membership. This revision gives any future Board the flexibility to control costs and HOA assessments. Our proposal is not a power grab or something nefarious. We are protecting homeowner interests and your pocketbooks.

 

Another claim recently circulated in an anonymous letter alleges the NTRA Board removed the BMP (retention ponds) reference from the amended Village Walk Supplemental Declaration in order to make all of NTRA responsible for the BMPs. This is simply not true! The reference was removed from the new documents because no one has found or provided documentation of NTRA/Village Walk’s legal responsibility for those BMPs.

 

The Board has recently sent a letter to all NTRA owners about this situation. To summarize, there are no documents recorded with James City County that require the Association to pay future maintenance costs for the stormwater retention ponds near Village Walk. These maintenance costs have not been shown to be a New Town Residential responsibility but are the responsibility of the developers/owners of this land. Scary cost figures for repairs to the walls of these ponds have been floated anonymously as well. Again, repairs are fully the responsibility of the owners and their James City County bonds will not be released until this work is done satisfactorily. 

 

This is another example of how the errors and confusing language in our existing developer-created governing documents could serve the developer’s interests and have increased the Association’s legal costs. As the Association’s Treasurer I can advise you that the barrage of unsolicited emails and letters to owners affect your homeowner dues because of the unanticipated legal costs to review and reply to these owners.

 

Please – let’s stop the confusion and unnecessary expense – VOTE FOR the amended documents.